Amazing! Scientists using HIV to fight cancer. Yay for science!!

[PeaceNikki]

Last edited Thu Jan 17, 2013, 10:09 AM - Edit history (1)

http://vimeo.com/54668275

ETA a link to story for those who can't see video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2246312/Girl-7-beats-leukaemia-revolutionary-treatment-using-HIV-virus-wire-immune-system.html

The cancer girl cured by the HIV virus: Seven-year-old makes extraordinary recovery after U.S. doctors re-wire her immune system to destroy leukaemia cells

In April this year, Emily Whitehead's family had almost given up hope.

The brave six-year-old had been fighting leukaemia for two years, only to relapse for a second time during intensive chemotherapy treatment in February.
Doctors had exhausted all the traditional treatments as Emily could not remain in remission for long enough to attempt a bone marrow transplant. So her desperate parents, Kari and Tom, started looking at more radical options.

Doctors suggested they sign Emily up to a clinical trial that would use a disabled form of HIV to carry cancer-fighting genes into her T-cells (disease fighting cells). The hope was that this would re-programme her immune system to recognise the cancer cells and start killing them.

Several adults had already been enrolled in the study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and had responded well, but as it was so new the treatment wasn't without risks. But time was running out for Emily, who is also known as Emma.

Mr Whitehead said: 'We were told that we were down to 48 hours of making a decision or she could start having organ failure.'
They comforted themselves with the knowledge that even if the treatment didn't work, it would provide doctors with information that could help them save other sick children.
So on April 17, the then six-year-old became the first child to have the therapy known as CTL019

[Heimer]

1. Fantastic. Eom

[theKed]

2. ...link...?

[PeaceNikki]

3. Can you not see the video in OP?

Otherwise: http://news.discovery.com/human/health/hiv-used-to-fight-cancer-110914.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2246312/Girl-7-beats-leukaemia-revolutionary-treatment-using-HIV-virus-wire-immune-system.html

The cancer girl cured by the HIV virus: Seven-year-old makes extraordinary recovery after U.S. doctors re-wire her immune system to destroy leukaemia cells

In April this year, Emily Whitehead's family had almost given up hope.

The brave six-year-old had been fighting leukaemia for two years, only to relapse for a second time during intensive chemotherapy treatment in February.
Doctors had exhausted all the traditional treatments as Emily could not remain in remission for long enough to attempt a bone marrow transplant. So her desperate parents, Kari and Tom, started looking at more radical options.

Doctors suggested they sign Emily up to a clinical trial that would use a disabled form of HIV to carry cancer-fighting genes into her T-cells (disease fighting cells). The hope was that this would re-programme her immune system to recognise the cancer cells and start killing them.

Several adults had already been enrolled in the study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and had responded well, but as it was so new the treatment wasn't without risks. But time was running out for Emily, who is also known as Emma.

Mr Whitehead said: 'We were told that we were down to 48 hours of making a decision or she could start having organ failure.'
They comforted themselves with the knowledge that even if the treatment didn't work, it would provide doctors with information that could help them save other sick children.
So on April 17, the then six-year-old became the first child to have the therapy known as CTL019

[Recursion]

7. A lot of people don't like videos and prefer to read

Their firewall may block them at work, or they just think videos are a bad way to make an argument.

[theKed]

9. I cannot

All i could see was the text declaration, sorry.
On a phone ATM, is probably why.

Thanks for the additions

[PeaceNikki]

11. my pleasure. should have thought of that. blocked at my work, too.

I'm blown away by this story.

[ananda]

4. text link

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9738355/Emily-Whitehead-girl-whose-cancer-was-cured-by-HIV.html

This is amazing. Pure awe for this process and what it does.

[PeaceNikki]

5. Thanks, it is truly amazing.

[nc4bo]

6. Incredibly inspiring! nm

[WillyT]

8. K & R !!!

[JesterCS]

10. Don't let Faux News see this

They'll turn it into Obama is infecting people with HIV to thin the white people out. *snark*